💚 Fusion Energy Works ⚡
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Stay impactful,
Happy Thursday 👋
Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:
- A great step toward fusion energy ⚡
- Cutting pesticide usage in half ☣️
- Cracking down on microplastics beyond glitter 🚫
- And more… 💚
What comes to your mind when you think about nuclear power?
For me, it’s clean, limitless energy with the drawbacks of nuclear waste and a potential for major incidents.
That’s because, as of now, virtually all nuclear energy comes from nuclear fission (when neutrons divide).
But then there’s nuclear fusion (when neutrons fuse), which comes with a promise of all the upsides but without any of these downsides!
And just about now, we’ve made a major step forward toward making it commercially viable!
⚡ How the World’s Largest Fusion Reactor Achieved Its First Plasma
1️⃣ The big picture: The journey toward practical fusion energy has reached a significant milestone with the world’s newest and largest fusion reactor, Japan’s JT-60SA, successfully firing up. This reactor uses magnetic fields from superconducting coils to contain a hot cloud of ionized gas, or plasma, within a doughnut-shaped vacuum vessel. Its goal is to coax hydrogen nuclei to fuse and release energy. The JT-60SA is designed to hold a plasma heated to 200 million degrees Celsius for about 100 seconds, a duration far longer than previous large tokamaks.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The successful operation of JT-60SA is a testament to the reactor’s basic function and a step forward in fusion energy research. This reactor will also aid ITER, the international fusion reactor under construction in France, by testing technologies and operating know-how. ITER aims to demonstrate how fusion can generate more energy than it consumes. The lessons learned from JT-60SA’s plasmas will be invaluable for ITER’s development.
3️⃣ What’s next: Looking ahead, Japan hopes to build DEMO, a demonstration power plant, by 2050, bridging the gap from the research of JT-60SA and ITER to commercial fusion power. The competition and influx of private money in the fusion energy field also open doors for collaboration and innovation.
Related: Check out the History of Nuclear Fusion to get the big picture on why this is such a significant milestone.
📢 More Good News…
💨❄ A sustainable alternative to air conditioning is discovered:
- Researchers from McGill University, UCLA and Princeton have discovered a sustainable alternative to mechanical cooling with the use of roof materials and are examining how to combine them with temperature-driven ventilation.
- The roof materials examined can potentially be integrated into architectural design to drive regular and healthy air changes.
- The researchers hope the findings will be used to positively impact communities suffering from dangerous climate heating and help mitigate dangerous heat waves during electricity blackouts.
☣️ EU votes to cut pesticide use in half by 2030:
- The Environment Committee of the European Parliament has voted to ensure sustainable use of pesticides and reduce their use by at least half by 2030.
- Additionally, EU member countries must have rules for at least five crops where reducing chemical pesticide use would have the most impact. Any changes that arise from the new rules would happen gradually to minimize impacts on food security.
- This new proposal is one of many measures aimed at reducing the EU food system’s environmental footprint, as well as mitigating economic losses caused by biodiversity loss and climate change.
🚫 EU to crack down further on microplastics after glitter ban:
- After the recent glitter ban has gone into effect, the EU now plans to cut plastic pellet pollution by 74% by the end of the decade.
- As part of its efforts to cut microplastic pollution by 30% by 2030, the European Commission wants operators who handle plastic pellets to take precautions to prevent spills, contain any spills that do occur, and clean up after any spills that are not contained.
- According to the European Commission, this new proposal will help cut pollution at the source and lead to a 7% reduction in Europe’s microplastic pollution.
👩💼📣 Event of the Week: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
👉 Did you know that tomorrow on November 2 will be International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists? This year, multiple panels and discussions will be held in Washington D.C. to bring light to the violence against journalists, further protect and improve their safety, and end impunity for crimes against journalists worldwide.
1️⃣ The big picture: This international day was first established in 2011 and was chosen to mark the Ampatuan or Maguindanao massacre in 2009, in which 32 journalists and media workers were attacked and killed. Tomorrow, several organizations and agencies will help reinforce a coordinated response to the threats faced by journalists and promote ethical journalism.
2️⃣ Why is this important: Only 14 percent of cases of crimes against journalists are currently considered judicially resolved, according to UNESCO. Journalists often face a range of violence such as murder, kidnapping, intimidation, harassment, torture, and even sexual assault, for investigating and revealing the truth. This UN-recognized event was created to address the attacks against journalists, prevent the covering of murder and corruption, and help create a safer environment for journalists.
3️⃣ How can you get involved: Some of the best ways to get involved is to formally join or volunteer, donate to, or partner with UNESCO to aid them in their efforts. But if these options don’t work for you, you can easily support journalists by spreading the word. This can be done by sharing campaigns on social media and sharing the stories of killed journalists online. Forgetting these cases fuels impunity. Use the hashtags #TruthNeverDies #EndImpunity #ProtectJournalists and #MakeImpunityVisible on social media to help spread the word and combat the persistent violence against journalists.
Check out these related articles below to help support :
📜 This Week in History
🧔🏻 November 2, 1950: Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw died at home at the age of 94. He was renowned for numerous plays, including “Pygmalion,” “Man and Superman,” and “Saint Joan.” He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925 and left a profound impact on literature, Western theater, and social commentary.
🏛 November 4, 1946: UNESCO was officially established as its constitution entered into force; this specialized agency of the UN called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
👩🏻💼 November 4, 1924: American politician Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first ever woman to be elected governor of Wyoming, a US state.
💭 Quote of the Week
“If you can’t appreciate what you’ve got, you’d better get what you can appreciate.”
― George Bernard Shaw; Irish playwright, critic, Nobel Prize winner, and political activist
Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!
Stay impactful 💚
